Reigning and conquering against all odds: Volleyqueen Jaja Santiago rules both in and out of the cou

Volleyball has been continuously rising to prominence in the country in the past few years. As the sport rises, we also come to know some of its prominent players, and one of them is Jaja Santiago, one of the best that we have today.

Born on January 20, 1996, Alyja Daphne “Jaja” Santiago, is one of the most prominent volleyball players in the country today. At the age of 21, she has already made a name for herself and have established career in the sport of volleyball.

Fourth from a family of five, Jaja, who stands 6 foot 5, was the daughter of late basketball player Leonardo “Jojo” Santiago, who stands 6 foot 6 and once played for the University of Manila Hawks and the San Juan Knights in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association, and, Alma Antonio, an OFW in Israel who stands 5 foot 9.

Sports were really in their blood as she and her sister Aleona Denise "Dindin" Santiago, as well as her other two siblings were into volleyball.

“Nagstart ako mag volleyball nung dinala ako ng ate ko sa UST and naging inspirasyon ko non ay ang pamilya ko at ang estado ng buhay namin.”

Her older brother, Axel Leonard Santiago, was a former champion of men's volleyball player in National University back in UAAP Season 75, and is now with PLDT. While her younger half-sister, Abigail is also into volleyball and joins them in training. Her other older sister, on the other hand, is an OFW working in Dubai.

At first, the height that they inherited from their father seemed like a curse, given they had a hard time on clothes, more so, with boys. But this was all in the past as when they decided that their height is a blessing, it has given them the opportunity of a lifetime, to be the next volleyball stars in the country.

More so, this opportunity has helped their family as this paved the way for Jaja and Dindin to be the breadwinners of the family through the sport, which made this as Jaja’s inspiration at that time.

Hailing from Tanza, Cavite, they then went to the busy city of Manila to pursue high school studies at the University of Santo Tomas and enroll under its volleyball program. And this was the start of how their lives changed through volleyball.

The days with the dream team

As Dindin brought Jaja to the world of volleyball, so did the two sisters then, together with the Batangeñas Alyssa Valdez and Kim Fajardo, brought the UST Golden Tigresses much honor back in their high school days.

With this powerhouse combination of the two Santiagos. Valdez, and Fajardo, UST sweeped all championship awards when the ultimate team was together. On her first year of playing, Jaja Santiago got the Rookie of the Year award on Season 72.

This ultimate team before, together with Valdez, Fajardo, was only during their high school days.

The team broke shortly after their coach Francis Vicente left. Dindin and Jaja then followed him to the National University.

Leading the Lady Bulldogs

Starting Season 76, Jaja became part of the Lady Bulldogs and was also named Rookie of the Year. With the help of her sister as well as her teammates such as Myla Pablo, Aiko Urdas, Jorelle Singh, Jasmin Nabor, Kai Nepomuceno, NU consistently made appearances on the Final Four, not just in UAAP but as well as on Shakey’s V-League, now Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

During the recent Collegiate Conference on PVL, Jaja was named MVP as NU Lady Bulldogs won the championship, as well as on the 13th Conference of Shakey’s V-League back then, with Jaja Santiago leading the Bulldogs without her sister.

Getting fired up in the courts of the pros

While on her second year of playing for NU, she started playing volleyball outside of the UAAP realm as she became part of PLDT Home Telpad Turbo Boosters from 2014 to 2015.

After a year with PLDT, she transferred to Foton Tornadoes and has played there up to the present. So far, she has played five conferences under Foton since her debut in 2015 Grand Prix Conference of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL).

Santiago also played at the 2016 Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino, 2016 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix, 2017 Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference, and now at the 2017 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix. She also got the MVP award in the 2016 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix for a back to back win.

More opportunities spiking in her court

With all these experiences, other countries have expressed their admiration to the young lady who reigns in the court with all her prowess. “Isa na din siguro yung happy ako kasi nakikita ng ibang country yung potential ko as a volleyball player.”

Although, this 21-year old Caviteña has still more to grow, as one international coach have said.

“Santiago, she is very good. She’s a nice player and she’s very big,” said NEC Red Rockets-Japan coach Akinori Yamada through an interpreter during an interview with ABS CBN Sports. “She has to do more practice and training but I see great future for her that I consider (recruiting) her,” he added.

Jaja knows about this, that is why she always strive to learn more and improve always. Thus, last year, all her efforts paid off as she became part of the National Team, and was picked for the Magnificent 7 that represented Philippines in the 2016 FIVB World Club Championship. “My unforgettable experience so far is when they chose me to be part of the National Team and maglaro sa World Club Championship last year,” she narrated.

Being a part of the Philippine National Women's Volleyball Team, she also represented the country during the 28th and 29th Southeast Asian Games, with her currently being the tallest member.

Aside from representing the country, Jaja also had an opportunity back in 2013 to play for the US NCAA, under American Division One School, University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA). But she declined the offer and stayed with the NU Lady Bulldogs.

Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer, UCLA women’s volleyball assistant coach, emailed Jaja but as we know it, Jaja stayed in the country.

With all her physique, prowess, and skills, other sport teams also had their eye on her. Long before she started with NU Lady Bulldogs, she was asked to play too under the women’s basketball team of the same school, but she refused.

Likewise, when a video of her dunking the board was released in social media, she also had an offer from the national team.

“Ayaw ko po i-grab. Minsan nagbibiro ako na magdu-dual sports ako pero it's just a joke, kasi hindi ko nakikita ang sarili ko playing basketball,” she said during an interview with SPIN.ph

Reigning over the court

One may wonder how Jaja overcame all obstacles and became one of the reigning queens of the volleyball court. It is not just her physical abilities and qualities, but it is how she deals with things that makes her a real champion, a real queen, not just in the court but as well as in life.

“Si Jaja Santiago for me ay isang player na matiyaga at madiskarteng tao sa buhay, hindi ako nakuntento sa anong skills na meron ako kasi I want more pa sa paglalaro ko, gusto ko pa matutunan yung maraming bagay at maexplore pa kung ano pang kaya kong gawin,” Jaja narrates.

That makes Jaja Santiago not just a champion but also a leader and a role model.

Sadly, if ever she was not introduced to volleyball and did not become a volleyball player, we would only see her as a regular student.

“Kung hindi ako volleyball player ngayon siguro estudyante lang ako. Kasi nung bata ako, wala talaga akong hilig sa paglalaro o kahit anong sports,” she explains.

But that did not happen, as we see her now as the queen who is at the peak of her rule over the volleyball court.

As a champion, her experiences led Jaja to value discipline, hard work, and the continuous drive for growth and learning as some of the factors that makes up a good volleyball player.

“Siguro kailangan lang may disiplina ka sa sarili, hard work, patience, respect, and yung willingness na matuto pa at hindi makuntento sa kung ano lang ang nalalaman mo.” “You just need to have the passion and love and everything will come out naman,” she adds.

Thus, with all the achievements and admirations she is getting, she continued to keep God, her family and friends as her motivation for continuing her journey in volleyball.

“My first motivation/inspiration siyempre si God kasi binigyan niya ko ng ganitong skills at chance para mapakita ko kung anong talento ang meron ako. Second is my family na kung hindi ako magpupursige sa lahat ng ginagawa ko ay hindi ko matutulungan na umangat sa hirap buhay. 3rd ay yun mga taong naniniwala, sumusuporta palagi sa akin na nagtitiwala na kaya kong maglaro beyond myt limit even in my worst time na nandyan pa rin sila.”

“Kaya kahit na minsan bumigay ako o umaayaw na ko iniisip ko palang ng lahat yan parang nanunumbalik lahat ng lakas ko at naiisip ko kagad na lumaban lang ng lumaban,” she further narrates.

When asked how to be a champion like her, she tells that being yourself and striving is the key.

“Kailangan mo lang maging ikaw at magstrive pa ng more sa larangan ng volleyball. Do your best to achieve your goals. Kasi everyone has their own uniqueness,” she tells smilingly.

The volleyqueen have faced a lot while in her career at an early age, yet she continues to fight on and she advices likewise. “Maadvice ko lang sa mga batang nagsisimula palang matuto magvolleyball or pumasok sa larangan ng sports ay pagbutihan, mahalin at magpursige sila ng mabuti para maabot nila ang mga pangarap nila, wag silang susuko kung nakakaramdam sila ng pagod o pagsubok kasi sa lahat ng pagsubok na yan dyan tayo lumalakas, tumatatag at matututo kaya dapat laban lang ng laban.”

At the end of the day, the volleyqueen’s life changed through volleyball as it helped her family, and have made her as to who she is today. With her promising skills, leadership, and attitude towards life in general, no wonder Jaja Santiago is one of the names that would resound throughout volleyball history.###

References:

Uy, Marie Ernileth S. (2017). Phone Interview with Jaja Santiago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaja_Santiago

http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/17/13/dindin-and-jaja-santiagos-twin-dreams

http://www.spin.ph/sports/volleyball/news/jaja-santiago-on-declining-ucla-offer

http://www.spin.ph/volleyball/special-reports/totga-ust-tigresses-uaap-womens-volleyball

http://www.spin.ph/volleyball/news/jaja-santiago-admits-getting-offers-to-play-for-national-womens-basketball-team

http://sports.abs-cbn.com/volleyball/news/2016/09/08/great-hope-santiago-impresses-foreign-coaches-15308

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